West Highland Way-Day 4

Day 4–6.9 miles hiked (Drover’s Inn to Crianlarich)

We all woke up with smiles, knowing we only had to hike 6ish miles to our next town, Crianlarich, where we could hop on a train to visit the coastal town of Oban for the rest of the day. In addition, we were reaching the half way point of the entire trail which was an exciting milestone!

The kids hiked with a spring in their step, even more so after they bought some candy at an “honesty box” that we passed. Actually, springs in our shoes would have been quite helpful, as we passed through one of the muddiest sections of the trail we’d encounter. Shoe sucking, thick, deep mud covered the trail and provided some good laughs as we all seemed to choose different paths, often getting stuck on an “island” of safer ground but needing to leap to the next safe spot! I became even more envious of the Laursen family’s long legs as they leapt like gazelles across the muddy abyss, whereas my short legs looked like something more akin to a pot-bellied pig making the jump!

: So happy we’re out of the Drover’s Inn

: This tiny tunnel is called a sheep creep

: Poor Kyla, mud hopscotch got the best of her shoe

: Does she make it? (she did!)

: Creepin’ along in the sheep creep!

: I loved the stone walls along the trail

: This guy ate this entire jar of Nutella in less than 24 hours!

: Spooky tunnel!

We arrived in plenty of time for the train and had a fabulous afternoon exploring Oban. Diana and I took the kids to the Oban Chocolate Company which felt like a European version of Asheville’s French Broad Chocolate Lounge. Larry and John enjoyed the local scotch distillery, and we all enjoyed window shopping and a dinner of fish and chips (the best we’d had yet!).